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Search Dogs are trained to find missing people by following scent which is carried on the air. This is a very efficient method of searching large areas quickly and does not require items of clothing or effects of the missing person. Dog teams can be quickly deployed by helicopter to remote areas where they can quickly begin to start searching, whilst other search resources are being marshalled. At the present day within NSARDA there are in excess of 90 qualified search dogs on 24 hr call, 365 days of the year.

Dogs work equally well in the dark and use their senses of smell and hearing to their fullest under these conditions. It is calculated that a dog is equivalent to about 20 searchers in good conditions and many more in poor conditions. In ideal conditions a dog can pick up a human scent from about 500 metres.

Search Dogs are employed in a wide range of incidents from lost walkers and climbers to missing children and possible victims of crime. When operating under the control of a Mountain Rescue search co-ordinator the handler and dog will follow instructions and integrate their abilities with that of other searchers. In more and more incidents the handlers and dogs are responding to situations which do not involve other Mountain Rescue elements. In particular when searching with police officers for possible crime victims, in these circumstances the dog handler will rely strongly on his own skills and resources to fullfil the demands of the work.

Search Dogs are usually summoned by the Police control room via a SARDA call-out co-ordinator who, after discussing the details will establish the necessary resource required. Handlers are usually contacted by telephone, or message pager. Call-outs within mountainous areas will see Search Dogs working alongside members of Mountain Rescue Teams, forming an invaluable part of the search operation. In urban or rural areas it is not uncommon for Search Dogs to work directly for the Police as an autonomous unit. Search Dogs should be summoned as early as possible as this gives the dogs the best chance of success.

Provision is commonly made for dogs and handlers to be deployed by aircraft to cut down on the walk in times, SARDA enjoys a very good relationship with the RAF and Navy Rescue squadrons, with the dogs soon becoming accustomed to being winched into and out of the helicopters.